Afghan SIV Program Terminated Immediately: All Current Holders Face Mandatory Deportation Review

If you’re the friend who actually reads the fine print, you know that immigration policy can change lives overnight. This bill, the Afghan SIV Termination and Security Review Act of 2025, is a major shift that doesn’t just stop a program—it retroactively changes the rules for thousands of people already living here.

The Door Slams Shut: No More SIV Applications

First, let’s talk about what this bill does to the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. The SIV program was designed to offer a path to safety for Afghans who put their lives on the line assisting the U.S. government, military, and contractors. This bill simply repeals the law that created it (Section 3). It’s not a pause; it’s a full stop.

Crucially, the bill prohibits the filing of any new applications and, perhaps more significantly, it cancels all Afghan SIV applications that are currently pending but not yet decided. Think about the people who have spent years gathering documents, surviving threats, and waiting in limbo for a decision—their cases are immediately closed and will not be processed. For those individuals and families, their pathway to safety through this program is gone, effective immediately upon enactment.

The Mandatory Security Sweep for Current SIV Holders

Now for the part that affects people already settled in the U.S. The bill mandates a comprehensive security reassessment for every single individual already admitted under the Afghan SIV program (Section 4). This isn't just a quick database check; it’s an extensive, mandatory review that must be completed within 18 months.

The requirements are serious: everyone must go through biometric re-enrollment, updated checks against criminal and intelligence databases, and a re-verification of their claimed service to the U.S. government. If national security indicators pop up, the Secretary of Homeland Security can require in-person interviews. This means thousands of families who thought they were safe and settled here—maybe they’ve bought homes, started jobs, and enrolled their kids in school—are now facing an intrusive, mandatory re-vetting process.

Status Rescinded: The Threat of Removal

This isn't just an audit; it’s a review that directly threatens their legal status. Section 5 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to make an individualized determination on every SIV holder to see if they are still eligible, or if they are now considered inadmissible or removable under immigration law. This includes checking if they engaged in fraud during their application or if they pose a national security concern.

If the determination is negative—meaning the government decides the person shouldn't have been granted SIV status—the Secretary must start the process to rescind (take away) that person’s SIV status and initiate removal (deportation) proceedings. For someone who has been here legally for years, this is a massive shift. Their status, which was supposed to be permanent protection for their service, can be revoked, and the bill explicitly states that status cannot be reinstated or reissued (Section 6). Priority must be given to cases flagged for national security concerns, meaning those individuals could face immediate action.

Where the Money Goes

Finally, the bill addresses the remaining funds that were allocated for the SIV program. Any unspent money will be reallocated to the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (Section 7). So, while the program for Afghan allies is terminated, the funding is redirected to support U.S. veterans, which is a clear benefit for that community.